The 14 Best Weekend Deals on Smartphones, Laptops, and Audio

You deserve a hat tip if you managed to find some time outdoors this weekend. You're like Gary Paulsen's hero, escaping the confines of the indoor world and temporarily becoming free from the oppressive weight of life. We feel for those who are suffering from heat waves or wildfire smoke. Even though we have become so skilled at staying in our homes over the past year, it can get stale and repetitive after a while. It's worth investing in a few new toys to make your home more enjoyable and interesting. This weekend, it's all about indoor tech with great deals on smartphones, headphones, and other devices.Gear readers get a $5 discount on a 1-year WIRED subscription ($25). You will have unlimited access to WIRED.com as well as our print magazine (if desired). Subscribers help us fund our daily work.We may be compensated if you make a purchase using the links in our stories. This supports our journalism. Find out more.Deals on Tablets and LaptopsPhotograph by AsusThe Flip is a 2-in-1 notebook. You can use it as a regular laptop, with the trackpad and keyboard in front of your eyes, or flip the keyboard to use the touchscreen like an iPad. Scott Gilbertson, a senior product reviewer, rated it the best overall model in his Guide to the Best Chromebooks.The Sufrace Pro 7 2-in-1 Surface laptop is now updated with a USB C port. The laptop has a 12.3-inch screen and a 3/2 aspect ratio, which makes it ideal for sharing documents. Although it doesn't explicitly state that this is a deal Amazon has a similar price.Although we said that the Ryzen 5 model was our favourite budget powerhouse laptop, this Ryzen 3 model is still quite good, even though it's a little slower. If your computing needs aren’t very intense, this model will still work.Scott Gilbertson, senior product reviewer, calls it an ideal Chromebook to use at school. This Chromebook is an entry-level Chromebook, which can be converted into a tablet. It has an AMD Ryzen3 chip, 4 gigabytes RAM, 64 gigabytes storage, and a metal structure that gives it a more luxurious feel than its plastic-shell counterparts.The 4th-generation iPad Air was released in late 2020. It stole a lot from the iPad Pro. This iPad will be used for web surfing, video games, and hobby-level drawing thanks to Touch ID and Apple's new A14 Bionic chip.Phone and Device DealsPhotograph: SamsungJulian Chokkattu, senior reviews editor, called it a Renaissance smartphone in his review. He gave it an 8/10 score, a WIRED Recommends Award and an 8/10 score for its fast processor, 48-megapixel rear camera and two-day battery life. You can activate the $50 discount by purchasing now.OnePlus has enjoyed a cult following for its premium phones and their mid-range pricing. It was awarded an 8/10 by Julian and a WIRED Recommends Award. And it's now cheaper than ever. What's the catch? The catch? If you want it to be this affordable, it must come in green. It's beautiful and deep seafoam.Totallee has some of our favourite thin phone cases. It can be used wirelessly with MagSafe charging or Apple Wallet's NFC payments app. There is no branding. This sale is valid through August 8.Since before the pandemic, we haven't seen a better deal on the Brio. Matt Jancer awarded it high marks in his Best Webcams Guide for its outstanding video.The Portal was updated by Facebook late last year to allow video conference on many popular platforms. Senior associate reviews editor Adrienne So loved using the Portal for Zoom calls. The Portal automatically tracks the subject on camera, so people won't be surprised to think that you have your own videographer after they see all the zooming and panning.Audio DealsAmazon PhotographParker Hall, a reviewer, gave them an 8/10 rating and a WIRED recommendation award for their sound quality, charging case, and integration to Amazon's Alexa voice assistant. When you wear them, just say "Hello Alexa" and Alexa will summon you like a personal genie.To get 15% off, click the Apply Coupon button prior to checkout. Jeffrey Van Camp, the reviews editor and Hall both stated that these earbuds sound like a pair of headphones that would cost twice or three times as much in their guide to Wireless Earbuds for Every Mood. The buds can last for six hours on a single charge but their IPX5 water resistance rating will keep them from sweating through intense workouts.Although they are expensive, Parker Hall said that you get the best listening experience for your money. They were awarded an 8/10 by Parker Hall and a WIRED Recommended label. However, their high price tag and 20-hour battery time are not great.To get $20 off, click the Apply coupon button prior to checkout. Roku is our favorite streaming device. Its soundbar offers 4K video support, voice-capable remote control and decent speakers. It doesn't come with a subwoofer, so you'll need to pay $180. However, it's still an amazing deal.Here are more great WIRED stories